Virtual Reality — Let’s Get Into The Matrix
I dream of how the world is a conspired one like we are in the Matrix.
I often think of how cool it would be to have those computer-like eyes of Robocop and Terminator.
And I dream of travelling to places as well as living in an anime world.
All these fantasies I had been living in might be an imagination-powered reality. The vague imaginations were not something I could really be living in but the idea of interacting with such a reality is intriguing. The matrix is never a final destination but a means to empower one’s productivity, imagination, knowledge and wisdom.
Imagination-Powered Reality
The advent of computers has changed the world in a lot of ways that no one had imagined it to. And on the edge of this feat, evolves the notion of living and interacting with a virtual world.
The definition of virtual reality comes, naturally, from the definitions for both ‘virtual’ and ‘reality’. ‘Virtual’ is near and ‘reality’ is what we experience as human beings. So, ‘virtual reality’ is basically ‘near-reality’. This could, of course, mean anything but it usually refers to a specific type of reality emulation.
VR Headset
Basically, a person straps a box/helmet-like device over her head so that she can look into the box to see the virtual environment inside.
The device contains various sensors like gyroscope, accelerometer, and in some cases external sensors to track the movement of the head as well as the person. The goal of the hardware is to create what appears to be a life sized, 3D virtual environment without the boundaries we usually associate with TV or computer screens. So whichever way you look, the screen mounted to your face follows you.
Back To The Retrofuturism
Let’s look at the past that has powered today’s future.
1957 — Sensorama
The first virtual reality machine was arguably the Sensorama, invented by Morton Heilig in 1957.
This bulky machine had a large screen inside along with all the sensors that could control pressure, temperature and such, so that the person could really feel the virtual environment.
Here’s the video that sums up this ingenious invention.
1965 — The Sword of Democles
The first head-mounted stereoscopic display for viewing and navigating a computer generated environment was the Sword of Democles by Ivan Sutherland. Ivan Sutherland was already a respected person in the field of computer graphics.
The virtual environment inside was just a wire-framed world with stereoscopic display.
This is perhaps the seed of today’s virtual reality. But it was bulky and the headset was immobile.
1960s-1980s
Steady development of early VR during 60s-70s were driven mainly by US Military works on vehicle simulators, special teams at NASA and also the researchers in The University of Utah.
This progress along with enhancement in computer graphics technology really began to gain momentum in the 1980s.
And around 1985 something marvelous was created by the NASA team.
1985 — Virtual Environment Workstation
NASA created this virtual workstation. This next step in VR consisted of 2 LCD TV displays, wide-angled stereoscopic optics and a motorcycle helmet.
The user could really have an immersive experience into the virtual world. This was perhaps VR at its finest at the time. Here’s the demo of the technology:
1990s — Virtual Reality Video Games
During 1990s, video games with VR flavors began to emerge. The game industry really changed the use case for VR. The earlier publicly available VR games were available in the form of arcade machines.
VFX1 HeadGear
The Forte VFX1 was a consumer-level VR headset. But it was quickly outrun by other popular companies like Nintendo and Sega.
1995 — The Virtual Boy
This 32-bit table top video game console developed by Nintendo was marketed as a portable video game console capable of displaying true 3D graphics.
Well, if you like red and black graphics being true enough… :D
Despite its marketing strategies, it was a commercial flop for three reasons.
- The price was freakishly unrealistic
- Users were reported to have nausea and headaches.
- Users felt uncomfortable for the positions to play the games.
(That nausea and headache is still persistent today; at least in some VR sets.)
1990s — In a nutshell
Even after numerous attempts and a series of only (minor) successes, Virtual reality, in reality, had failed to deliver its promises.
A decade-long breath
The 2000s saw the rise of Facebook, Android, iPhones and tons of hypocrites; fall of Twin Towers, monarchy in Nepal; death of Michael Jackson, Osama Bin Laden.
And the 200s also re-established VR as a thing of retrofuturism.
So, what now?
2012 — Oculus Kickstarter
Out of the long forgotten realm of VR, Oculus came into headlines for its kickstarter: Oculus Rift. It took the world by surprise for its promises of VR.
2014 + more— Facebook and Oculus
In 2014, Facebook purchased Oculus for $2 billion. The vision of Facebook to incorporate virtual reality as a means for bringing the world even more closer than the traditional social media became an ambitious project.
What Facebook Looks Like in Virtual Reality With Oculus
This can really be a game changer.
Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vibes and tons of other expensive things
Just when Oculus Rift’s capability was envisioned, other companies stepped into the VR race. Samsung with its promising Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vibe (along with other companies) giving chills to the users have reanimated the VR from its technological grave.
The use of smartphones as rendering device for such headsets is intriguing in itself. Just place your smartphone (that which has a minimum hardware spec) in the headset and you are good to go.
The fact is — these VR headsets are a bit out of reach for broke people like us.
Google Cardboard for everyone
And then, Google released this DIY Google Cardboard as a way to say “Screw you” to all those expensive sets.
The cardboard is simple and “just works” in letting people experience virtual reality using their smartphones. Google has released the blueprints on actually crafting these cardboard sets in your own home.
360 Degree Videos
Virtual Reality doesn’t stand a chance without its software parts. And 360 degree video has made it possible for users to watch a video with VR headset with whole 360 degree angle of freedom.
Augmented/Mixed Reality
Don’t scratch your head on this term. Unlike virtual reality, augmented and mixed reality is where you render virtual objects onto the real world.
You can, for instance, project a virtual (fake) plane in the backyard of your house using such technology.
Interaction with holographic projections can really be a game changer. Despite VR being the technology of the near future, augmented reality might change the world in terms of entertainment, education, work-spaces, gaming, etc. Companies like Google and Microsoft have already manifested such technology like:
Microsoft’s Hololens
The headset is intriguing for its real demo and use-cases. A use-case for Hololens, as Microsoft has showcased, is having LIVE video chat with AR.
Now, developers can create AR apps for Hololens to make it even cooler.
Google Glasses
Unlike Hololens, Google Glass is actually designed in the shape of a pair of eyeglasses. It has a touch sensor for voice-activated google now.
But, google glass could never really render itself as a real product for consumers because it failed to help consumers understand why they needed such a device. But, hey, its promises were ambitious despite lacking object recognition, good video recording options and above all it was launched when it was in a prototype stage unlike Oculus Rift and Hololens which took time to achieve near-perfection.
And then Magic Leap Happened
Magic Leap might be the world’s most secretive startup for virtual reality. It has already been backed up by Google, Microsoft and such. And it might be the future of computing in a nutshell.
So, What’s next?
After all these virtual/augmented/mixed reality jargons, what’s next?
From education, social media and medical (not to forget the porn industry) to NASA, SpaceX and the scientific communities, VR has its seeds deeply rooted. There’s no end to the use-cases for these VR technologies. So, wait a bit longer to get your hands on these. And prepare to be wowed…
Your imagination is the only boundary.
Zerone is an undergrad publication at I.O.E, Pulchowk focusing on People (their creative side, their thoughts, their lives) and Technology (the new, the old, everything).
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